“Do what thing?” Hanna asked, but she knew.
“Do the, what’s after this, yaddi yadda, conversation?” Lily said, and Hanna felt like the fuckboy Lily had come back. “You know, outside the group chat, IRL?”
But it sounded like Maya wasn’t having it. “Yes, I suppose we can because we are adults,” Maya said, and Hanna watched the fuckboy facade slip off Lily’s face, and Hanna’s crushes on them both continued to grow.
“I really had a good time,” Hanna began.
“Understatement, I think, speaking for me,” Maya said, smiling.
“No complaints,” Lily replied.
“Maya, you’re, I mean we go to school close by…” Hanna mumbled.
There was another silence, then Hanna watched Maya turn to Lily.
“Are you jealous,” Maya teased, another type of smile on her lips.
“Wow, and I get called the fuckboy,” Lily said.
“Because you are, apparently,” said Maya. “Yes, I would love to meet up again, especially if you want, you know, more practice.” She turned towards Hanna, winking.
“Practice?” Lily repeated. “Okay, yes, I am jealous.”
“Sarah Lawrence isn’t that far away, it’s on the train line,” Hanna found herself saying, because while she loved the idea ofpracticingwith Maya, she loved the idea of Lilyalsobeing there even more. The interest that she had formed around Maya and the renewed crush she felt herself dusting off for Lily were equal in their weight and curiosity. They also felt intertwined now, a part of each other. “I mean you could easily take the train,” Hanna started but stopped when Lily laughed slightly. Hanna’s face flushed at her apparent foolishness.
“A whole train to get laid,” Lily laughed, and it was a statement, not a question. Then Lily’s eyes met Hanna’s, and asif seeing the effect of her words, she said, “I mean, you two aretotallyworth it, and I don’t mind Boston.”
“That makes one of us,” Maya said, and continued,”But perhaps we can be more strategic about when we meet up.”
Hanna smiled at Maya. She appreciated the assist, as she wasn’t sure how she felt not having Lily there. Whatever had happened last night, it had felt like the three of them sliding into place.
Lily pursed her lips. “Should I be jealous that you both will be in Boston, though?”
“Should I be jealous that there is undeniably some tension and history between you two that I have no context for?” Maya countered.
After a beat, Lily shook her head. “Fair, okay, but to be clear, we aren’t U-Hauling times three, right?” Lily said, and Maya snorted.
“I just, I just want last night again. To share that,” Hanna said quietly.
“I mean there’s always the option of a video call,” Maya said conspiratorially.
Truthfully, that had been the best sex of Hanna’s life, a life plagued by lots of mediocre, if not plain bad, sex. She didn’t see how anyone could blame her for wanting it again, and again, and again. Hanna also knew that there was some kind of chemistry between the three of them that made it feel even moreright. A feeling she knew she’d want to continue to chase and hoped Lily would let her. That Maya would let her.
“So are we really making plans to do this again? When is everyone home again?” Maya asked.
“Leave it to the business major to help us get down to business,” Lily mused.
“I am home for a bit over winter break, though I usually try to figure something out so I am not home the whole time. Maybewe could go somewhere? My parents have a house outside of Miami.”
“I would love to but I do have to come home a bit, I feel like my mom is going to need me longer than a weekend. I have already talked to my dad about it and he agrees. I am all for going somewhere though, maybe somewhere close by? Or here?” Maya said.
“Actually, I have the perfect place. My aunt runs a crunchy retreat up north, we can have our family cabin all to ourselves,” Lily piped up as if energized by the idea.
“Rich people,” Hanna said smiling, but she was serious. She knew that if this is what Lily described as a ‘treehouse,’ whatever she was referring to as a ‘cabin’ was something much grander than the modest ranch-style home her parents had in Florida.
“I mean yes, and if we can all take advantage of it…” Lily trailed off.
“Not complaining, but let us know how we can contribute or help or?—”
